Björk, Martina

Improved safety at roadworks - from a roadworkers' point of view (English)

Abstract [en]

Purpose: There are many different risks while working on or close to roads. This is because conditions are very varying on road works and different tasks are being performed at the same time (AV, 2015). According to a survey carried out by SEKO (2011) seven out of ten road workers are worrying about working on or close to roads because of the lack of safety. But the fear is not groundless, according to a survey carried out by Liljegren and Szafran-Kzdrój (2014) 2935 accidents related to road works happened between year 2003-2012 where road workers were involved in 139 of the total cases. Efforts to create a better work environment are taking place daily but there are still road workers that get injured or even killed during work. The aim with this report is therefore to examine how roadworkers safety can be improved during roadworks.

Method: This survey is a case study, which aims to illustrate the reality. In order to answer the questioning formulation, three different methods have been used. A literature study was first completed to understand how far previous research has come and after that a document analysis of valid laws and regulations was made. The third method used was qualitative interviews, which is the most important foundation for the result.

Findings: Risks that occur in road work zones often arises because of the passing traffic. High speed along with reckless drivers or drivers that act aggressive are great risk factors. These risk factors also contribute to mental illness such as stress and anxiety. Physical problems are also a cause of bad work environment with dusty or noisy surroundings. The shared solution to solve these problems are diversion or to reduce speed even more past road work zones. This is though easier said than done because the road maintenance often wats to keep a high traffic volume during the time a road work is performed.

Implications: Risks in road work zones are lower when a traffic diversion is applied or when traffic can pass in a satisfactory way. Unfortunately, these actions are not being applied in such extent as wanted by the road workers. To minimise risks in road work zones the contractors' have to start compile and together ask for higher standards. When traffic diversion can’t be applied must recommended speed be reduced even more.

Limitations: All interviews were conducted with people working in the same company but in different business areas, within the county of Jönköping. This was because different opinions about the problem were asked for. It is though difficult to decide whether or not the result is generalizable, because only people within the same county and company were interviewed.